Pitted against the galaxy's fiercest foe, you either win or the whole world loses.

The universe teeters on the brink of total annihilation at the hands of the vile alien war monger, Red Falcon. Earth's only hope rests with you, a courageous member of the Special Forces elite commando squad.

Your mission: Battle deep into the deadly Amazon Jungle, where the Red Falcon and his galactic henchmen have transformed ancient Mayan temples into awesome monuments dedicated to mass destruction.

A multitude of weapons, from rapid-fire machine guns to high-tech lasers, are at your disposal as you sweat blood, fighting past 3-D mazes, underground security systems and tropical forests surrounded by giant waterfalls and alien cannons. This is the ultimate test for the ultimate guerrilla warrior. And if you survive, Earth survives.

A side-scrolling shooter, Contra has nonstop rapid fire action. In addition to the side-scrolling/platformer levels, there are two behind-the-character "3-D" levels in which you must battle through enemy filled corridors to reach the level's boss.